Weekly News for the week of:

July 3, 2022

This Sunday:

Today, from our own church sanctuary, we will consider what “sanctuary” means in our lives. We all need places of refuge and protection; maybe now more than ever considering the continuous challenges we are being confronted with. What places, people, or practices feel like a sanctuary to you? In what ways are you yourself a walking sanctuary for others? Together, we will be intentional about offering and receiving the refreshing gifts of sanctuary.

SUNDAY

9:45 AM :Adult RE

In Person: in Gerber Room
Summer RE Principle and Sources series – this week we will explore with a time of reflection and community centered around helping our community. [soulful home packet]

Onsite Only

9:45 AM: Children’s RE

Elementary Ages: Onsite, email Erin Connolly by Saturday noon if you’ll be attending online

On site: in Gerber Room (* teens may help, let us know you’ll be coming)
RE Hangout – collages with prophetic words of people

10:30- Worship Service- All Ages

Sanctuary, what are places you feel safe what are ways you help others feel protected?
How to make visual art directed by breath
Coloring Sheet: “Kintsugi Mandala Coloring Page”
Use a printed or hand labyrinth to find renewal as you attend worship this morning. Here’s a labyrinth you can print out and trace. Labyrinth Printable
Practice your Searching and Creative skills with Spark Maze

Monday – Thursday
Weekly posts on our new covenanted RE Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/groups/UUBerks.RE.page/?ref=share
check out our Remind classroom.
If you need to signup link here: remind.com/join/refuucbc

A note from the UU Berks IT Services Team:
As you know, a lot of things will be changing in August. We want to remind everyone that on August 1st, all emails sent to minister@uuberks.org will be going to Reverend Amy DeBeck. If you want to send Rev. Dr. Sandra Fees a message, you can use this address through the end of the July. If you have any questions, please let us know by sending an email to g.it.services@uuberks.org.

Greeters Needed

We are currently looking for anyone who is interested in volunteering to be a Greeter and when the time comes- to be an Usher. This is a great way to get to know your fellow members or get to know them better And of course- being of service can provide comfort to you and others!!

Currently we have a group of approx 10 of us that rotate and fill in when we can but if we can get another 10 volunteers- then this will mean you would be a greeter every 6 -8 weeks and provides back up for our busy summer months.

We like to have two greeters at each service & when RE sessions are occurring on Sunday’s- one greeter arrives at 9:40 to greet those arriving for RE at 9:45 & the 2nd greeter arrives at 10 am to be available for those attending the Sunday service.

Please take time to consider this and please contact me, Joanne Koehler at jkbluesky@icloud.com or my cell 610-914-8827 if you are interested or have any questions.

Pridefest is Almost here!

Mark your calendars for the LGBT Center of Greater Reading’s PRIDE FEST on July 17th, 2022. Come out and show your support for our LGBTQ Community with a day full of music, vendors, food and FUN! We will sending out a call for volunteers in the next few days. Please keep an eye out for that email.

UPDATED COVID POLICY

UU BERKS CHURCH GATHERING COVID POLICY

Effective June 1, 2022 until further notice

Given the evolving nature of the pandemic, the FUUBC Board will be making ongoing evaluations on a regular basis. We are using available metrics from:

“U.S. COVID Risk & Vaccine Tracker,” which provides real-time data: https://www.covidactnow.org/us/pennsylvania-pa/county/berks_county/?s=21621088;
CDC guidelines: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html

FULL VACCINATION STRONGLY RECOMMENDED: FUUBC strongly encourages all those who can be vaccinated to be vaccinated, including boosters as appropriate. The church will be requiring proof of vaccination for the Minister, staff, guest speakers, and all RE volunteers.

MASKING RECOMMENDED: FUUBC strongly encourages attendees at worship services and other large gatherings to wear masks.

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THE FOLLOWING GROUND RULES* WILL GUIDE CHURCH GATHERINGS

In gathering together, we promise to:

Wear masks when recommended by CDC guidelines.
Do not attend in person gatherings if you are not feeling well or if you have been directly exposed to Covid-19.
Gain consent before touching or hugging others. Be mindful of varying levels of comfort and safety with social distancing when approaching others.
Find ways to be inclusive of individuals who cannot be vaccinated, who may be immunocompromised, or who have hearing impairments.
Prioritize the safety of the whole community over our own individual sense of what is safe for ourselves.
Give and accept reminders of these ground rules gracefully.
Assume good intentions, but also accept that policies and these ground rules will guide our actions.
Respect the authority of the people making policies.

* adapted from Ground Rules by Carol Gay, UU Congregation of Cleveland

Update on Parking Options

Free parking is available on Sundays on the street and in the library parking lot.
The parking garage across the street (4th and Cherry streets) has changed to a pay by app system. The app is called ParkMobile. It can be downloaded in the apple store or on the google play app. At this time we are unable to offer discounted parking vouchers.

Are you having trouble connecting to Zoom services?

We have established a Zoom service tech line if you are having trouble logging into our Sunday service. If you do not get an immediate answer, leave a message and your call will be returned momentarily.Dial 484-925-1684.